BOISE — In 12 short years, Christian Family Center, a church of 8,500, has purchased large swaths of cheap Idaho land with surplus tithes and effectively taken control of the state.

“I am largely a figurehead now,” the governor concedes.

Many state services are now in church control, including state highways, which the church maintains as toll roads. Church members drive for free. Others pay $7-12.

“It’s like The Blob or the Borg,” says one critic. “While we weren’t looking, they took over the state. It’s an evangelical Utah.”

One liberal watchdog group has launched a “Buy Idaho Back” campaign. For now, one can drive from Oregon to Montana and never leave the church’s “Area of Ministry.” Road rules are policed by an Usher Force driving new Mustangs. Every billboard bears an IXOYE fish or salvation appeal in addition to the advertisement. All roadside businesses offer Study Bibles in racks near the door.

The church owns so much pastureland it had to hire a full-time pastor to handle grazing requests from ranchers.